Raisin grape spreader

ABSTRACT

A raisin grape spreader has a carriage movable over the ground and supports a roll of paper fed from the roll at controlled rates relative to the carriage advance and laid as a strip on the ground under raisin grapes from a hopper on the carriage deposited by a feeding conveyor. Guides on the carriage temporarily lift the paper strip edges as the carriage advances, and a knife severs the strip at the end of a deposit operation.

United States Patent 1191 Olmo et a].

[ Aug. 14, 1973 RAISIN GRAPE SPREADER [75] Inventors: Harold P. Olmo,Henry E. Studer,

both of Davis, Calif.

[73] Assignee: The Regents of the University of California, Berkeley,Calif.

[22] Filed: Dec. 13, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 207,133

[52] US. Cl 34/93, 47/9, 222/176, 34/236 [51] Int. Cl. F26b 19/00 [58]Field of Search 34/93, 236; 47/9; 222/176 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Abernathy et a]. 34 /93 2,890,665 6/1959 Kang 47/93,587,931 6/1971 Studer 222/192 1,750,054 3/1930 ROSSO 47/9 PrimaryExaminer-Kenneth W. Sprague Assistant Examiner-James C. YeungAttorney-Marcus Lothrop et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A raisin grape spreader has a carriage movable over theground and supports a roll of paper fed from the roll at controlledrates relative to the carriage advance and laid as a strip on the groundunder raisin grapes from a hopper on the carriage deposited by a feedingconveyor. Guides on the carriage temporarily lift the paper strip edgesas the carriage advances, and a knife severs the strip at the end of adeposit operation.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Pmmm am: I 4am SHEEI 1 0F 4 INVENTORS HAROLDP. OLMO BY HEN/2Y5 STUOE/Q @n/r (div 1% 7 AT TORMEY PArmcmv 3.751.821

SHEET 2 BF 4 INVENTOR. HAROLD 1. OLMO HENRY E STUDEQ zfiq/ r 4/4 TATTORNEY Pmm u AUG 1 mu m aor 4 I NVEN'TOR. HAROLD I? QLIMO BY HENRY E.STUDER ATTORNEY Pmminw 3.151.821

INVENTOR,

HENRY E. .ST

ATTORNEY RAISIN GRAPE SPREADER It is becoming increasingly necessary toprovide means for mechanizing the handling of raisin grapes for themanufacture of raisins and generally to improve the raisin makingtechnique. At present raisin grapes are largely hand picked and laid outby hand on rectangular paper trays for sun drying in the vineyard. Thegrapes are subject to other hand operations, such as rearranging andturning, and when dried are taken from the trays, usually by hand. Theused trays are taken from the vineyard and destroyed, being replaced forsubsequent use. This is essentially a batch or unit process and is noteasily mechanized.

We have experimented to determine whether or not it is feasible to lay aground cover such as paper between the vine rows in a vineyard anddeposit raisin grapes thereon for drying, the deposit being as uniformas possible and in a relatively thin layer, so that the grapes, withoutturning, are uniformly dried into raisins. This technique has proved tobe successful under the test conditions.

It is therefore an object of our invention to provide a machine whichwill lay a strip of paper continuously on the ground, preferably in theaisle between the rows of vines in a vineyard, and which will alsodeposit uniformly a layer of raisin grapes on the paper strip fordrying.

Another object of the invention is to provide a raisin grape spreaderthat will easily start the laying of a paper strip in position at thebeginning of a row and will terminate the laying easily at the end of arow.

A further object of the invention is to provide easy and convenient waysof depositing a strip of paper in a vineyard, for example, by a machinewhich utilizes a small amount of only modestly skilled labor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a raisin grape spreaderthat is effective to confine the deposited grapes substantially withinthe bounds of a paper strip and which avoids contaminating the laidgrapes with surrounding earth, debris or other undesired material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a raisin grape spreaderthat affords a relatively level, uniformly deep and constant width bandof deposited grapes on a ground cover such as a paper strip.

A further object of the invention is in general to provide an improvedraisin grape spreader.

Other objects together with the foregoing are attained in the embodimentof the invention described in the accompanying description andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view, largely in side elevation with one sideof the machine removed, showing the general organization of the raisingrape spreader of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section to an enlarged scale, the plane of sectionbeing indicated by the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail showing in plan a portion of the structure enlargedin FIG. 2, the direction of the view being indicated by the line 3--3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section to an elarged scale, the plane of sectionbeing indicated by the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation showing diagrammatically the principal partsof a modified form of raisin grape spreader, the frame and otherunmodified structures being omitted for clarity;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section, the plane of which is indicated by the line6-46 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of a paper handlingmechanism for use with the remainder of the raisin grape spreader, asshown herein; and

FIG. 8 is a half plan of the modified structure of FIG. 7.

A device related to the presently disclosed raisin grape spreader isshown in US. Pat. No. 3,587,93l issued June 28, I971 and in ourcopending application entitled Raisin Pick Up Machine filed on Dec. I0,1971 with Ser. No. 206,600. Some of the description and terminology usedin that instance apply to this device.

In a preferred form as disclosed herein, the raisin grape spreaderpursuant to the invention preferably includes a carriage, generallydesignated 6, of a size and character adapted readily to advance in thedirection of the arrow A along the aisle between the rows of grape vinesin a vineyard, for example. The carriage has a main frame 7 at itsforward end supported on dirigible wheels 8 and at its rearward endsupported on driving wheels 9 all running on the ground 10. The rearwheels 9 are arranged on an axle 11 carrying one or more hydraulicpropulsion motors 12, as desired. These are supplied with pressurehydraulic fluid from a hydraulic mechanism 13, diagrammaticallyillustrated, and including the usual pump, relief valve, control valves,and the like, all driven by an internal combustion engine 14, alsodiagrammatically illustrated, and mounted on the frame 7.

Adjacent the rear end of the frame is an operators station 16 from whichthe operation can control a hydraulic regulating valve 17 controllingthe supply of hydraulic fluid to the motor 12 and governing the rate ofadvance of the carriage in the field. It is customary to propel thecarriage at a reasonably uniform rate consistent with variations in thejob conditions. The operator likewise has a steering mechanism 13availableto ma neuver the wheels 8. The machine canbe guided along therows, which are usually straight, but also can follow the curvature ofrows that happen to be of a different configuration, and can easily andsharply be turned at the end of a row ready to start into an adjacentrow.

Particularly in accordance with the invention, there is provided at theforward or leading end of the frame 7 a pair of supports 21 and 22 forsupporting a roll 23 of paper, illustrative of materials which may belaid on the ground. Such materials may be in the form of separate sheetsor in the form of a continuous strip so long as they'act to support theraisin grapes as they are drying. While it is entirely possible toutilize sheets and to use different kinds of material rather than astrip or band of paper, a paper strip in a roll configuration has provedappropriate in present use. The roll 23 of paper is of a width which isa substantial portion of the distance between the rows of grape vinesand is confined in a transversely centered location on the frame 7 bymeans of end flanges 24 on the support 22. While both of the supports 21and 22 may be free-turning rollers and freely support the roll 23, it ispreferred to block the support 22, leaving the roller 23 free. There issome friction against the support 22 serving as a drag on the paperroll. The paper roll can easily be placed on and removed from thesupport without dismantling any machinery.

Paper is pulled from the roll 23 under some tension and is led on a path26 extending between a pair of feeding rollers 27 and 28. Each roller isjournalled on its respective one of a pair of cross shafts 29 and 31rotatably mounted in a stand 32 supported on the frame 7. The roller 28is free to lower by gravity toward the roller 27 so that the rollers 27and 28 grip the paper from the roll 23 between them for feedingpurposes. The roller 27 is preferably rubber covered and is connected bya belt 33 to a drive pulley 34 on a hydraulic motor 36. Supply andreturn lines 37 and 38 extend to the hydraulic unit 13. The supply line37 is joined through a hand valve 39 to the return or exhaust line fromthe vehicle driving motor 12. By working a handle 41 of the valve 39 thevehicle operator can direct the discharge from the motor 12 to thehydraulic unit 13 or can connect the motors l2 and 36 in series so thatthe paper strip feed is related to the vehicle advance. It is sometimesdesired to have the paper fed through the rollers 27 and 28 faster thanthe motor 36 may then be set to run. There is consequently incorporatedin the drive between the hydraulic motor 36 and the pulley 34 anoverrunning clutch mechanism 43 permitting the pulley 34 and the roller27, when so impelled, to rotate faster than the hydraulic drive motor36.

Upon emerging from between the rollers 27 and 28, the paper strip movesunder a guide bar 44 mounted on supports 46 on a cross shaft 47journalled with respect to the frame 7 and manually positioned by theoperator. Normally the guide bar 44 is located as shown in FIG. 1, sothat as the feed rollers advance the paper strip, the paper is guided tolie on the ground beneath the carriage.

About centrally mounted on the frame 7 is an open top hopper SI ofsubstantially the free-flowing, nonjamming shape shown. The hopperreceives raisin grapes from any suitable source, such as a harvestingmachine travelling along the same grape row with or alongside thecarriage 6 or travelling in an adjacent row. The harvesting machine caneven be combined with the spreader in one unit. The hopper 51 containsraisin grapes discharging therefrom through a transverse orifice 52located at the lower portion of the hopper and extending forsubstantially the same width as the paper.

Disposed on the frame 7 beneath the outlet 52 of the hopper is a feedingmechanism including a belt 53 trained around an idler roller 54 and adriven roller 56 both journalled on the frame 7. The roller 56 is drivenby a belt 57 from a hydraulic motor 58. A manually actuated motorcontrol valve 62 is provided on the hydraulic unit 13. The operator byproperly manipulating the valve 62 can control the rate of operation ofthe motor 58, and so the rate of operation of the feed belt 53. Theupper run of the belt 53 moves opposite to the direction of advance ofthe carriage 6, or rearwardly.

In some installations, the feed belt 53 has its upper run movingforwardly to discharge over the front end. This is entirely feasible butin this case the hopper 51 is usually mounted to discharge forwardly,also. Grapes either in clusters or as single berries from the hopper 51are carried away from the opening 52 to permit the egress of additionalraisin grapes. The speed of motion of the belt 53 governs the rate ofremoval of the raisin grapes from the hopper and so governs the rate atwhich the raisin grapes round the rearward roller 54 and fall onto thesubjacent paper strip. The rate of deposit of the raisin grapes iscoordinated with the rate of advance of the machine, i.e. the rate oflaying of the paper strip by the series interconnection of the motors l2and 36 and the drive ration to the roller 31. A relatively uniform layerof raisin grapes is thus laid down. Since the feeding device and thepaper strip are approximately the same width, the full width of thestrip, nearly, is laden with raisin grapes.

We have particularly found that it is of great assistance in ensuringthat the individual grape berries or bunches are confined to the paperand that any surrounding debris or earth is kept from the depositedgrapes if the edges of the paper strip are turned up. Further, we havefound that it is not necessary to make this tum-up into a permanentfeature of the paper strip, but only in the area and during the timethat the grapes are being deposited. Upon deposit the individual grapesand bunches quickly become stable and stay in position if they areinitially confined. For that reason, there are provided on the frame 7at each side thereof identical devices in the nature of means fortemporarily lifting the paper edges.

On cross pins 66 journalled in the frame sides there are mounted levers67 joined by a cross bar 68 manually positionable by the operator. Eachlever 67 carries a sleeve 69 within which a rod 71 is rotatable. Thelower end of each rod is bent to occupy a position inwardly of the paperedges and slightly rearwardly of the rod shank. Rotation of the rod toofar rearwardly is precluded by a stop 72 on the rod which engages ashoulder 73 on the surrounding sleeve 69.

In the ordinary transport of the machine, the levers 67 are actuated bythe cross bar 68 so that the rods are lifted considerably above theground and have no particular effect. However, when the paper strip isbeing dispensed and shortly before grape deposit commences, the levers67 are moved into the position shown in FIG. 1 by lowering the bar 68.The lower ends of the rods 71 are brought into light engagement with theground 10. Advance of the frame 7 over the ground makes the bent ends ofthe lowered rods rotate inwardly of the frame and rearwardly until thestops 72 are effective to preclude further rearward motion. In thisextreme position the bent ends of the rods extend transversely orslightly rearwardly of a transverse location.

As the machine advances, the dispensed paper rises or is lifted from theground over the curvature of the lower ends of the rods so that thestrip edges are temporarily curled up and lifted. The natural stiffnessof the paper causes this curvature to extend forwardly and rearwardly ofthe bent rod ends so that there are upturned margins formed on the stripas it is being laid, particularly in the portions of the stripimmediately below the dispensing or feeding belt 53. As the grapes aredeposited they are put into what is in effect a temporary trough. Whenthe grapes have reached the ground, have stopped rolling or tumblingabout and are stable, the paper has passed beyond and to the rear of theinturned lower ends of the rods 71 and resumes a flat condition. Theupturned edges of the paper lower onto the ground easily and overlie anyclods or debris or other irregularities. I

In operating the machine at the beginning of a row, it is headed in thedirection of the arrow A down the aisle. The operator starts thecarriage forwardly and starts the feed of the paper by energizing thehydraulic motors l2 and 36. The operating rolls 27 and 28 unreel thepaper gripped between them. The paper falls onto the ground below and tothe rear of the guide bar 44. The operator controls the rate of advanceof the carriage 6 by regulating the hydraulic motor 12. Preferably thepaper is dispensed onto the ground at a linear speed somewhat less thanthe linear rate of advance of the carriage. This means that in enteringthe aisle between the rows the first part of the paper strip initiallydrags along the ground at a relatively slow rate. As the initial raisingrapes are deposited from the feeding mechanism onto the paper, theweight of the deposited grapes is soon sufficient to hold the paper onthe ground and stop its forward advance. As the machine advances thepaper from the roll 23 drawn between the rolls 27 and 28 as required bythe speed of advance of the carriage and faster than the motor 36 causesthe paper to be fed by the rolls. This means that, the paper istensioned and the over-running clutch 43 is active. Under theseconditions the motor 36 can be deenergized, if desired.

As the machine approaches the end of a row, the grape discharge isstopped and the paper is severed. This is done by rotating the guide bar44 from its guide position and advancing a cutting knife 76 also mountedon the cross shaft 47 and supports 46. Preferably the knife is of aserrated nature and is plunged into the web of paper being dispensed.The paper is completely or partially severed so that it tears off of theroll, leaving the deposited end flat on the ground. The retained portionis in position to start the dispensing again upon energization of themotor 36 at the beginning of the next aisle and a repetition of thestarting sequence.

lf the ground between the vine rows is relatively smooth and level, itis not necessary that it be treated in any fashion before the paper islaid on it. Under some circumstances, however, the ground is notparticularly level or smooth, and hence we provide a relatively heavyroller 77 on a cross axle 78 mounted in a frame 79 connected to theframe 7 by a pivot shaft 81. If the roller 77 is not needed, and duringgeneral transport of the vehicle, the roller 77 can be lifted from theground. However, if rough ground conditions are encountered, the roller77- is lowered and serves not only to crush or displace small clods buttends to level the ground and to smooth it so that an appropriate bed isprovided for the reception of the paper strip.

Sometimes and for various reasons the receipt of grapes by the hopper 51is irregular and, despite some evening-out of the variations by reasonof the capacity of the hopper, the distribution of the grapes onto thepaper strip is not as uniform as is desired. For that reason, the devicemay be modified to include a distribution structure such as a storagebelt between the hopper and the feed belt.

As shown in diagrammatic FlGS. 5 and 6, the main portions of the machineremain as previously disclosed but some alterations and additions aremade. The frame 7 is carried on front wheels 8 and rear wheels 9 and hasa paper roll 23 fed between feeding rollers 27 and 28 and under a guidebar 44 and deposited on the ground 10. A feeding belt 53 is driven by amotor 58 and discharges rearwardly onto the subjacent paper stripdisposed in the path 26.

The grapes, as before, are received from a conveyor 89 and are depositedin a special hopper 91. As especially shown in FIG. 6, the hopper has afunnel-like,

downwardly converging top section 92 leading through a throat 93 to adownwardly diverging bottom section 94. The angle of divergence of theside walls of the bottom section is slightly steeper than the naturalangle of repose of the received grapes. The contained grapes thereforerest on a regulating conveyor 96 without deleterious contact with theside walls.

The conveyor 96 is a belt trained over supporting rollers 97 and 98 onthe frame 7 and is driven by a motor 99 with its top run moving towardthe trailing end of the vehicle. The grapes are transported by theconveyor 96 through a discharge opening 101 from the hopper 91 into aguide chute 102. They fall therethrough onto the feeding belt 53 andthen are carried onto the paper below, being laterally confined by sideboards 103. The motor 99 is under variable speed control by theoperator. The speed of the belt 96 is thus regulated to speed up ordelay the transit of grapes from the hopper to the belt 53 so that,despite variable grape receipt, the supply to and discharge from thebelt 53 is smoothed out and made as nearly uniform as possible.

To prepare the ground, the usual roller 77 is preceded by a drag 104flexibly trailing from the axle of the front wheels 8.

In some areas and at some times the raisin grapes spread for drying aresubject to rainfall. It is desirable to shed and dispel the rain wateras promptly and effectively as possible. To accomplish this, somemodifications in and additions to the previously described machines aremade as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

As before, the parts are the same unless particularly changed. The mainframe 7 at the forward end is carried on wheels 8. Above the wheels areuprights 106 having notches 107 at the upper end to support, with somefrictional drag, a shaft 108 carrying a paper roll 23. The paper extendson a path 26 to the feeding rollers 27 and 28, the former being drivenby the motor 36, as before.

In this hemisphere the grapes for drying are disposed in east-west rows,the rows being located as well as possible to get exposure to sun fromthe south. To contend with rainfall, it is preferred to prepare theground 10 between the grapevine rows to have a slope toward the south.This is usually done by advance grading. In addition, the roller 77 ismounted on the frame 7 at a similar slope and is preceded by a drag 109in the form of a rail or bar or in the form of a drum fastened againstrotation in a yoke 111 vconnectedto the axle of the front wheels 8 by achain 112. In this fashion, the sloped ground is preliminarily smoothed.

To assist in retaining the deposited grapes on the inclined paper yet tofacilitate rain water runoff, the paper strip is specially treated.After leaving the roll 23 and on the way to the feeding rollers 27 and28, the paper passes over a supporting table 1 16 disposed at aninclination on the frame 7. At the leading end of the table and on oneor preferably both sides thereof are located piercing dies 117 and 118'.These are narrow wheels having alternating teeth and flats that areintermeshed and slightly spaced apart. They are driven by a belt 119extending from the axle of the driven roller 27. Thus, as the paperadvances it is provided near and parallel to one or both edges with aline of spaced perforations. Sometimes such perforated paper isavailable from the mill and the piercing dies 117 and 118 can then beomitted.

The paper perforated near the edge in advancing over the table 116encounters edge-folding dies 121. These are mounted on the table 116 toswing out of the way if not needed or to overlie the table and the paperedge. The dies 121 are somewhat helically shaped and engage under theedge of the advancing paper. They lift up the paper edge, fold it,usually along the line of the perforations, and release it so that theadvancing paper emerges from the dies with folded, marginal flangesalong one or both edges.

The so-folded paper passes between the feeding rolls 27 and 28 and underthe guide bar 44. The paper may have sufficient resiliency so that theflange or flanges, temporarily flattened, partially reerect themselves.They are assisted in this by opening cams 122 on brackets 123 dependingfrom the frame 7 and which engage between the flanges and the main bodyof the paper and pry the flanges into a position about normal to thegeneral plane of the paper. There results a south sloping trough havingperforations at least along the south flange fold where it joins themain sheet.

With this arrangement rain tends to run off toward the south and toescape from the paper strip onto the ground through the variousperforations. Subsequently, when the raisins are picked up, the paper,in being pulled up between lifting rolls, tends to flatten into itsoriginal cross-sectional contour, eliminating the flanges and leaving asmooth sheet from which to remove the raisins.

What is claimed is:

1. A raisin grape spreader comprising a carriage adapted to be advancedover the ground, means for advancing said carriage over the ground at apredetermined rate, means for supporting a supply of paper on saidcarriage, means independent of said carriage advancing means for feedingpaper from said supply at a controlled rate differing from saidpredetermined rate onto the ground under said carriage, means on saidcarriage for containing raisin grapes, and means on said carriage forfeeding raisin grapes from said containing means onto said paper on theground.

2. A device as in claim 1 including means under operator control forregulating said paper feeding means.

3. A device as in claim 1 including an overrunning drive in said paperfeeding means effective to permit paper to be drawn from said supplyfaster than said paper is dispensed from said supply by said paperfeeding means.

4. A device as in claim 1 including means for advancing said carriageover the ground at a predetermined rate and for regulating said feedingmeans to feed paper onto the ground at a lesser rate.

5. A device as in claim 1 including means for severing said paper at alocation on said paper spaced from and situated between said feedingmeans and the ground.

6. A device as in claim 1 including means for temporarily lifting anddropping the edges of said paper in the vicinity of the area thereof onwhich said raisin grapes are deposited by said feeding means.

7. A device as in claim 6 in which said lifting means are guide fingersdepending from said carriage and extending under the edges of saidpaper.

8. A device as in claim 6 in which said guide fingers are retractablelaterally from a position under the paper to a position alongside thepaper.

1. A raisin grape spreader comprising a carriage adapted to be advancedover the ground, means for advancing said carriage over the ground at apredetermined rate, means for supporting a supply of paper on saidcarriage, means independent of said carriage advancing means for feedingpaper from said supply at a controlled rate differing from saidpredetermined rate onto the ground under said carriage, means on saidcarriage for containing raisin grapes, and means on said carriage forfeeding raisin grapes from said containing means onto said paper on theground.
 2. A device as in claim 1 including means under operator controlfor regulating said paper feeding means.
 3. A device as in cLaim 1including an overrunning drive in said paper feeding means effective topermit paper to be drawn from said supply faster than said paper isdispensed from said supply by said paper feeding means.
 4. A device asin claim 1 including means for advancing said carriage over the groundat a predetermined rate and for regulating said feeding means to feedpaper onto the ground at a lesser rate.
 5. A device as in claim 1including means for severing said paper at a location on said paperspaced from and situated between said feeding means and the ground.
 6. Adevice as in claim 1 including means for temporarily lifting anddropping the edges of said paper in the vicinity of the area thereof onwhich said raisin grapes are deposited by said feeding means.
 7. Adevice as in claim 6 in which said lifting means are guide fingersdepending from said carriage and extending under the edges of saidpaper.
 8. A device as in claim 6 in which said guide fingers areretractable laterally from a position under the paper to a positionalongside the paper.